Tuesday, 7 January 2014

Bath Rugby do not expect to Nick Abendanon to be leaving the club following reports linking him with a move to Clermont Auvergne.

Last week French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique claimed Abendanon had met Clermont officials, with the Top 14 giants viewing him as a potential replacement for Lee Byrne, who is expected to leave at the end of the season.

Abendanon, who has been capped twice by England, is under contract at The Rec until the end of next season and first-team coach Toby Booth said there was no truth in the claims he will depart early.

“There is no value in that, as far as we are aware,” said Booth.

Injuries and the form of Anthony Watson have restricted Abendanon’s appearances for Bath so far this season.

Sunday’s draw at Leicester Tigers was just the 27-year-old’s second Aviva Premiership start of the campaign.